Folding tent



C. C. CHITTIM Oct. 1, 1929.

FOLDING TENT 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 14, 1926 gwueatoz Cari C. ChH-h'mattozmq C. C. CHITTIM Oct. 1, 1929.

FOLDING TENT Filed June 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Car! Oct. 1, 1929. c,H|TT|M 1,730,267 I FOLDING TENT Filed June 1 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 00 /4A /6 Q Q Q '0 I uuv v 1 3 "I v 39 vb? [4f 3 wl'messes fP/w/ we. 2

Patented Oct. 1 1929 UNI STATES- FOLDING EEN T Application filed June14, 1926. Seria1 .No. 116,0 1=2.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding tents,and has for its primary obj set the provision of such a structure sodesigned and arranged that it may be quickly and easily set up or takendown and folded and which, when so folded, will occupy a minimum amountof space.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tent that may beset up and used without the necessity of employing guy-ropes and whichis yet so light that when erected it may be turned around or moved aboutby one person with perfect ease, to meet any conditions of air, shade orscenery.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of such a tent whichmay be employed in conjunction with an automobile to partially enclosethe same or which may be used independently thereof with equalsatisfaction.

I Another object is to provide a tent of the character described whichis equipped with beds or cots assembled in connection therewith. I i

Another object is to provide new and novel means for supporting the bedsor cots.

Another object is to provide a bed or cot which may be folded to occupya minimum amount of space.

Stil l another object is to provide such a v tent which, while simple inconstruction is nevertheless strong, sturdy and durable and an advancein the art.

Vith these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novelconstruction, combina-ti-on and arrangement of parts to be more :fullyhereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticurlarly pointed out in the appended claims.

the drawings forming a part of this application and wherein likecharacters of reference have been employed to designate thecorresponding parts throughout the several views: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tent, constructedin accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of-one-half of the tent.

Figure '3 is an endelevation of one of the connecting brace bars infolded condition.

Figure 4 is a view inelevation of the front cross rail ofthe topstructure of the tent, folded.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the position of the various partsof the main frame when the same is folded. i

Figure 6 .is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is a side elevation ofone of the beds in folded condition.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the manner of securing the canvasto the frame of the bed.

Figure '9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 1. i I

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line 1010 of Fig'ure 9.

Figure llis a perspective view of a latch employed for preventingdislodgment of the bed after it is assembled.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the construction of the bedframe. 1 p

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of securing thefront cross rail to the top rails.

V Figure 14.19; a sectional view on line 14-14 of Figure .2. i

' Figure 1 5 is a bottom plan view of a por- I tion of the rear crossrail.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a portion of thestructure.

. Reference now being had more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown oneembodiment of the present invention, there is provided -'a pair of sidesections A, each-of which comprises the vertically spaced front and rearuprights or supports 10 and 11 respectively, connected together by thehorizontal cross'bars 12 and 13, said bars having their opposite endspivotally secured to the 1 side faces of said uprights and hingedintermediate their ends as'at 14 to permit the folding thereof. The rearuprights of the sections are connected by means of the collapsi- 'ble orfold'able brace 15. Braces 16 having.

their opposite ends pivoted to the uprights 10 and 11 and the crossbar13 and each comprising sections foldably connected as at 17 are alsoprovided to more thoroughly brace the said uprights and retain them inproper spaced vertical position.

Secured to the opposite sides of the upper end of each rear upright 11and projecting therebeyond are the upwardly and forwardly curved bracketarms 18, between which is pivotally connected one end of the respectivetop rail 19 which is slightly spaced from the top of the rear uprightand extends forwardly and upwardly and is detachably connected adjacentits forward end to the respective front upright 10, the said top rail 19being provided with a pin 20 receivable within a notch 21 in a plate 22carried by the respective upright 10. The top rail 19 comprises sectionswhich are hingedly connected as at 23 in order that the same may bereadily folded to occupy a minimum amount of space-and the front upright10 also comprises sections which are hingedly connected as at 24 for thesame purpose.

Carried by the top rails and projecting, at its ends, therebeyond is atransverse front crossrail 25 clearly shown in Figure 4, said cross railhaving the end sections 26 and 27 connected therewith by the hinges 28and 29, each of said hinged end sections being provided with a terminalpin 30 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

In order to secure the front cross rail to the top rails, the said crossrail is provided with the clips 31 adapted to hook over the connectingportions of U-shaped members 32 secured to the forward ends of the saidtop rails 19.

Carried by and projecting. at its ends, be

.yond the rear uprights 11 is a transverse rear vadjacent each end as at37 to provide clearance in order that the attaching portion 38 of thatmember of each of the hinges 35 which is secured to the main section ofthe rear cross rail 33may be inserted within vertical notches 39 formedin the plates 18 as shown in Figure 14 for the purpose of retaining saidrear cross rail in proper position on the uprights.

Connecting the corresponding ends of the front and rear cross rails 25and 33 are the brace bars 40 each composed of two sections connected bya hinge 41, said sections being provided at their free ends with theplates 42 formed with notches 43 to receive the terminal pins 30 and 36carried by the hinged end sections of the front and rear cross rails.

Arranged to be supported by and between the front and rear uprights arethe cots or beds B arranged one above the other as shown in Figure 1.Each of the bed frames comprise a pair of longitudinal side bars 44 pro-I tension on the beds.

a lock plate vided with end sections 45 connected therewith by hinges 44said end sections being formed at their outer extremities with studs 46adapted to be fitted within sockets 47 formed in the end bars 48adjacent the ends thereof. Stretched over the frame is a suitablecovering 49, the side portions thereof being permanently secured to theside bars 44 and end sections 45 thereof while the end portions thereofare stretched over and around the end bars 48 and secured thereunder bysuitable means such as a belt and buckle connection 50 as shown inFigure 8. By the provision of the belt and buckle connection 50, it ispossible to take up any slack in the beds caused by thestretching of thecanvas, thus making it possible to always have a perfect This is one ofthe salient features of the present invention. Secured to each of theside bars 44 area pair of clips 51 adapted to engage over the connectingportions of U-shaped members 52 which are secured to each of theuprights, whereby the bed frame is supported in position.

For the purpose of preventing the bed from becoming dislodged after ithas been assembled between the uprights 10 and 11, there is pivotallymounted upon each of said uprights, directly above and adjacent eachmember 52, By reference to Figure 11 it will be noted that each plate isformed with the flanges 5-1- and extending in the same direction atright angles to the body portion of the plate. The flange 54 is locatedopposite the inner face of the upright while the flange 55 is locatedopposite the outer face thereof.

In positioning the bed between the uprights,

the lock plate is swung so that the flange 54 is received within arecess 56 in the face of the respective upright and after each clip 51has been engaged with the respective U-shaped member, each plate isswung on its pivot 57 so that the flange 54 will overlap and engage therespective clip 51, thereby securing the bed against accidentaldislodgment. In order to remove the bed, it is necessary tomove the lockplates about their pivots in the opposite direction until the flanges 54are again received within the recesses 56.

Pivotally mounted, as at 61, upon the inner side of each front uprightare the braces 58 which are provided at their free ends with notches 59to receive the pins 60 carried by the side bars of the bed. These bracesserve to retain the front uprights in proper spaced vertical positionand also serves to brace the entire frame work.

In setting up the tent, the sections A are first pulled apart until thefoldable brace 15 has reached its full extension, after which the frontand rear uprights are also pulled apart until the foldable cross bars 12and 13 and the braces 16 have reached their full extension. The toprails 19 are then swung about their pivotal connections with the I Thebeds B are then set up and secured between' the uprights by hooking theclips 51 over the members 52 after which the lock plates 53 are swung toengage the tops of the clips 51 and the braces 58 engaged with the pins60, carried by the beds. To set up the bed the end portions of the sidebars 44 are first unfolded after which the end bars 48 are insertedbetween the folds of the covering 49 and the pins 4:6 inserted withinthe recesses 47. The entire frame is then covered with suitable canvasor the like and if so desired an automobile may be run under the portionof the tent which projects forwardly beyond the front uprights.

To take down the tent, the above steps are simply reversed and inFigures 5 and 6 have been shown the positions of the various parts ofthe main frame after it has been taken down and folded, it being notedthat the parts are so folded that they lie very closely to each otherand form a very compact arrangement. The plates 18 are curved upwardlyand forwardly to permit the top rails to lie between the front and rearuprights when the sections have been folded.

From the above it will be readily appreciated that there has beenprovided a tent which will accomplish all of the objects and perform allof the functions claimed and it will be understood that while there hasbeen shown one embodiment of the invention, it is susceptible of variouschanges and modifi cations and that any such changes or modificationsmay be resorted to without departing from or exceeding the spirit of theinvention so long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a tentstructure of the character described, a frame comprising a pair of sidesections including front and rear uprights, foldable connections betweenthe sections, top rails connecting the corresponding front and rearuprights of the sections, front and rear cross rails supported by saidsections, and connecting brace bars extending between and secured tosaid front and rear cross rails.

2. In a tent structure of the character de scribed, a pair of sidesections each including a pair of uprights, connections between theuprights, foldable connections between the sections, a top railpivotally connected to one upright of each section and detachablyconnected with the other upright of the sections,

front and rear cross rails detachably su ported by said uprights, andfoldable brace bars extendingbetween and detachably connected to saidfront and rear cross rails.

3. In a tent structure of the character described, a pair of sidesections, each including front and rear uprights, foldable connectionsbetween the uprights, foldable connections between the sections, a toprail pivotally connected to each of the rear uprights and detachablyconnected with the front upright of the corresponding section, a frontcross rail extending between and detachably con: nected to the forwardends of the top rails, a rear cross rail extending between anddetachably supported, by the rear uprights, and

connecting brace bars extending between and detachably secured to theadjacent ends of said front and rear cross rails. y

4:. In a tent structure of the character described, a pair of sidesections, each in cluding front and rear uprights, foldable 0011-.

nections between the uprights, foldable connections between thesections,'top rails connected to the rear uprights and detachablyconnected with the front uprights, said top rails projecting beyond thesaid front upright, a foldable front cross rail detachably connected tothe forward ends of the said top rails and projecting at both endsthererights, a-foldable front cross rail detachably supported by therear uprights and projecting at both ends therebeyond, and foldablebrace bars connecting and detachably secured to the adjacent ends of thefront and rear cross rails.

5. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pairof side sections each including front and rear uprights, bracesextending between the uprights of each sec tion and each comprisingfoldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of therespective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of eachrear upright and extending above the upperend of the same, a top barpivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rearupright and extending fon Wardly therefrom, means upon each top bar andthe respective front upright separablyconnecting the parts, a rear crossrail extending between the rear uprights of the two sidesections,'coacting means upon the said rail and the saidbracket arms forseparably supporting the rail upon said arms, and a front cross railextending between and re movably supported upon the forward ends of saidtop: bars. y f

6. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pairof side sections each including front and rear uprights, bracesextending between the uprights of each section and each comprisingfoldably connected section's pivotally connect-ed with the uprights ofthe respective sections,

bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each rear upright andextending above the upper end of the same, a top bar pivotally mountedat one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extendingforwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective frontupright separably connecting the parts, a rear cross rail extendingbetween the rear uprights of the two side sections, coacting means uponthe said rail and the said bracket arms for separa bly supporting therail upon said arms, a front cross rail extending between and removablysupported upon the forward ends of said top bars, the front and rearcross rails each embodying end extension sections hingedly foldablyconnected therewith and extending beyond the rear and front uprights ofthe respective side sections, and bracing bars extending between thesaid end sections of the rear and front cross rails and separablyconnected at their ends therewith.

7. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pairof side sections each including front and rear uprights,

braces extending between the uprights of each section and eachcomprising foldably connected sections pivotaly connected with theuprights of the respective sections, bracket arms secured to theopposite sides of each rear upright and extending above the upper end ofthe same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracketarms upon each rear upright and extending forwardly therefrom, meansupon each top bar and the respective front upright separably connectingthe parts, a rear cross rail extend ing between the rear uprights of thetwo side sections, coacting means upon the said rail and the saidbracket arms for separably supporting the rail upon said arms, a frontcross rail extending between and removably supported upon the forwardends of said top bars, the front and rear cross rails each embodying endextension sections hingedly foldably connected therewith and extendingbeyond the rear and front uprights of the respective side sections, andbracing bars extending between the said end sections of the rear andfront cross rails and separably connected at their ends therewith, eachof said brace bars comprising foldably connected sections.

8. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pairof side sections each including front and rear uprights, bracesextending between the uprights of each section and each comprisingfoldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of therespective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of eachrear upright and extending above the upper end of the same, a top barpivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rearupright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar andthe respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rearcross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections,coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms forseparably supporting the rail upon said arms, a front cross railextending be tween and removably supported upon the forward ends of saidtop bars, the front and rear cross rails being extended at their endsbeyond the front and rear uprights of the respective side sections, abracing bar extending between the projecting ends of the rails at eachend of the structure, a headed stud upon each projecting end of eachrail,- and bracket members upon the ends of each bracing bar providedwith notches engageable with the respective studs and separablyconnecting the ends of the bracing bar with the extended ends of therails.

9. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pairof side sections each including front and rear uprights, bracesextending between the uprights of each section and each comprisingfoldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of therespective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each,rear upright and extendingabove the upper end of the same, a top barpivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rearupright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar andthe respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rearcross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections,coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms forseparably supporting the rail upon said arms, a front'rail extendingbetween the forward ends of the said top bars, retaining members uponthe forward ends of said bars each having a portion spaced with respectto the said end of the respective bar, and members upon the said frontcross rail for coaction with the'retaining members and each comprisingan attaching portion secured to the said rail and a downwardlyprojecting portion removably seated in the space between the saidportion of the respective retaining member and the forward end of'therespective top bar. i

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

CARL C. CHITTIM.

